Chasm develops between teams

By Marc McGowan and Paul Pickering
THE widening gap between the best and worst in the Dandenong District Cricket Association was evident again on the weekend, with one-sided results dominating playing fields across the region.
Berwick and Springvale South are again the frontrunners in Turf One, while the battle for promotion to the top grade looks a two-horse race between Hallam-Kalora Park and HSD.

@BT Sub Sport News:TURF ONE

Berwick d Cranbourne
Berwick was way too strong in accounting for Cranbourne by eight wickets at Casey Fields on Saturday.
Bears leg-spinner Ash Henry set up the triumph the previous weekend by snaring 6/11 as the Eagles were bowled out for just 104.
In reply, after two early stumbles, Berwick was led past Cranbourne’s total by gun all-rounder and captain Alex Roberts’ (109) second successive century.
The similarly run-hungry Gavan Wills (70 not out) joined Roberts in feasting on the Eagles’ attack.
The duo came to the crease with the Bears struggling at 2/21 before combining for a magnificent 167-run alliance.
Berwick declared at 3/219 to see whether it could claim outright points, but Cranbourne saw out the remaining 32 overs to finish on 1/51.
North Dandenong d Doveton
An embarrassing batting collapse at Robinson Reserve on Saturday has entrenched Doveton on the bottom of the ladder.
The lowly Doves surprisingly threatened North Dandenong before losing 9/63 to ruin another sterling solo performance from former captain-coach Brad Downe (98).
Chasing their opponent’s gettable 9/204, Doveton openers Downe and Troy Jordan (26) made a good start before the latter was removed with the score on 68.
Ryan McMurray (16) helped Downe move the Doves to 1/102 before McMurray’s dismissal triggered their disintegration.
Not one further Doveton batsman reached double digits as the team crumbled to be all out for 165.
Adrian Baltruschaitis (3/30) and Stuart Mack (3/35) were North Dandenong’s best with the leather.
Narre Warren d Parkfield
Narre Warren’s batsmen were in no hurry to surpass Parkfield’s meagre total of 144 at Sweeney Reserve on Saturday.
Having resumed at 0/23, Magpie openers Wendell Perumal (45) and Matt Darvell dawdled to 83 before the former was trapped in front by Dale Harris.
Having taken 176 balls and 200 minutes to make his 39, Darvell then fell to Bears paceman Shane Doig with the score at 108.
The measured opening stand left little work for number three Michael Dennis to do, yet the struggling batsman gained valuable time in the middle as he compiled an unbeaten 32.
The Magpies finally overhauled the Bears in their 73rd over, with just three wickets down.

@BT Sub Sport News:TURF TWO

St Brigid’s-St Louis d Fountain Gate
An insipid display from Fountain Gate’s top order handed St Brigid’s-St Louis a 108-run victory at Bondi Oval on the weekend.
Chasing St Brigid’s-St Louis’ imposing 286, Fountain Gate needed a good start, but produced exactly the opposite.
Only two of Fountain Gate’s top seven batsmen reached double figures as the team fell to 7/75 and then 8/101.
Nick Scanlon (77) finally offered some resistance in smashing his second half-century of the year.
He combined with Alex Sakadjian (23 not out) for a 64-run union, but it only delayed the inevitable as Fountain Gate was removed for 178.
Hallam-Kalora Park d Berwick
Hallam-Kalora Park narrowly missed out on outright points in its lopsided encounter with Berwick at Arch Brown Reserve on Saturday.
After annihilating the Bears’ bowlers before declaring at 2/274, Hallam-Kalora Park was just as commanding with the ball.
Berwick resumed at 1/30, but collapsed to be out for 117 and was forced to bat again.
The Bears struck similar trouble in their second appearance at the crease, falling to 3/4 and then 6/41.
Teenager Ayden Mills (42) stood strong, however, before his dismissal left Berwick on 8/95.
Fortunately for the Bears, they hung on despite the magnificent efforts of Sediq Shiryar (5/24 and 2/24) to end on 8/100.
Lyndale d Maranatha Methodist
Lyndale crushed Maranatha Methodist by 157 runs at Strathaird Reserve.
Only three Two Blues bowlers were required to dismiss Maranatha Methodist for a measly 114.
Michael Gallagher (6/41) was the pick of Lyndale’s attack, with Ben Montgomery (2/25) and Rodney Keyaerts (1/42) completing the rout.
Rohan Graham’s 32 was Maranatha Methodist’s best with the willow, but runs were hard to come by for the home team.
They were almost as difficult to produce in the second innings, before Maranatha Methodist limped to 6/128 when the game came to an end.
HSD d Hampton Park
HSD made a mockery of Hampton Park on its way to a 292-run win at Booth Reserve on Saturday.
After clobbering 8/341 the previous weekend, HSD’s bowlers took over and devastated the pitiful Redback line-up for 49.
Travis Lacey (16), who had made one run in his last three innings, and Thor Nancarrow (10) were the only Hampton Park batsmen to pass 5.
HSD’s bowlers shared the spoils, but Matt Downe (3/2) and Justin Davis (3/13) returned the best figures.
The Redbacks escaped outright defeat by creeping to 3/73 off the remaining 35 overs.